The opening week of the 2014 football season produced a few surprising results, but none were quite as attention-grabbing as Boca Raton's 25-21 win against Seminole Ridge, a team expected to contend for its sixth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

Boca Raton, which has not qualified for the playoffs since 2009, has been a below-.500 team each of the past three seasons. Less than two weeks into spring practices in May, head coach Jeff Dellenbach surprisingly handed in his resignation, leaving the program after only one year at the helm.

Eric Davis, a 1979 Boca Raton graduate who has been an assistant coach for 30 years at a handful of Palm Beach County schools, including his alma mater, was handed the reins in mid-May, becoming the Bobcats' fifth head coach in seven years. He quickly scrambled to assemble his own coaching staff and make systematic changes.

Graduation and transfers left the Bobcats with only one returning starter when August practices began, and another mediocre season appeared on the horizon. That perception changed, at least temporarily, Friday night when junior quarterback Philip Santiago connected with senior wide receiver Ben Smith on a game-winning 65-yard touchdown pass with 2:20 remaining, avenging a 30-7 loss to Seminole Ridge last year.

"It was a big win," Davis said. "We're trying to teach them how to win and how to finish."

Asked to give his team an overall grade on their performance Friday night, Davis handed out a 'B' and commended the Bobcats for the character they showed in not giving up. Next up for Boca Raton is neighboring rival Atlantic, which will be another challenging test for the young Bobcats, who suddenly are feeling better about this season than they did back in mid-May.

Champs have work cut out

Dwyer had a magical run in 2013, winning the Class 7A state title to cap a 15-0 season. The Panthers might have a tough time defending their district title this year, however.

Glades Central's defense smothered quarterback Daniel Parr and the Panthers' offense in a 12-7 win Friday night a week after Plantation-American Heritage rolled over Dwyer in a preseason Kickoff Classic matchup that was televised live on ESPN.

Glades Central sacked Parr, the 2013 7A state player of the year, four times and limited Dwyer's offense to 138 yards.

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Boca win, Dwyer loss shake up landscape early

Langham Creek and Klein Oak are incapable of playing a normal football game.

For the third consecutive meeting, the two teams had everyone on edge.

Klein Oak bested Langham Creek in a wild 50-44 win Saturday at Klein Memorial Stadium.

It looked like a Klein Oak rout at first. The Panthers were ahead 43-20 with four minutes left in the third quarter. But a furious Langham Creek comeback that included 24 unanswered points completely changed the landscape of this game.

"I told those guys at halftime," Langham Creek head coach Todd Thompson said."'We have a choice. We can keep letting the mistakes happen and keep going in the direction we're going in or we can turn this around. We're going to find out a lot about our team in the second half.'"

The Lobos certainly responded in the second half. But an 85-yard kickoff return from Klein Oak's Derrick Durden set up his 5-yard touchdown run with23 seconds left, allowing the Panthers to take the win back.

All Klein Oak early

It was all Klein Oak for nearly three quarters Saturday.

The way Langham Creek started the game helped. The first play of the game was an interception for Klein Oak's Jacob Harper. Quarterback Jose Blankenship turned that into a 3-yard touchdown down run.

The Panthers' second score was helped by another Langham Creek mishap. An illegal substitution penalty sustained a Klein Oak drive on 4th and 2. The Panthers drove down the field and capitalized with JT Smith's 1-yard touchdown run.

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FOOTBALL: Langham Creek's comeback bid falls short against Klein Oak

As late summer becomes early fall, it is a great time to get outside and do some yard work.

Is late summer/early fall a good time to plant a tree?

Mid-August through September is an excellent time to plant pine, spruce and other evergreens. (Evergreens planted in late October or November may not have adequate time to become established before the onset of winter and could be subject to desiccation, injury and death.) Deciduous trees and shrubs can be planted from August through early November.

Water newly planted trees every day for three or four days and then gradually reduce the frequency of watering. When watering, slowly apply water to the rootball and the surrounding soil. A thorough watering every seven to 10 days (in dry weather) should be sufficient three to four weeks after planting. Continue watering until the ground freezes.

Can perennials be successfully planted in late summer/early fall?

Late summer/early fall is an excellent time to plant many perennials. It also is a good time to move or divide perennials, such as peony, daylily, garden phlox and Oriental poppy. Perennials planted in late summer or early fall should be mulched with several inches of straw, pine needles or other materials in late fall. Mulching helps prevent repeated freezing and thawing of the soil that may heave plants out of the ground. Drying of exposed plant crowns and roots can cause severe damage or death.

When is the best time to sow grass seed?

Mid-August to mid-September is the best time to seed new lawns and overseed existing lawns in Iowa. Late-summer seeding has several advantages over spring seeding. The seeds of cool-season grasses germinate quickly in the warm soil of late summer. The warm days and cool nights of early fall promote rapid turfgrass growth. The growing grass also has less competition from weeds as few weed seeds germinate in fall.

When should I plant tulips and daffodils?

October is the ideal time to plant tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs. Plant bulbs in groups or clusters to achieve maximum visual impact. Bulbs planted individually or in single rows are generally not as effective. Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted as late as December if the ground is not frozen.

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Improve landscape in late summer, early fall

Our 16 Curb Appeal winner is eager to find out what the experts from Linton's Enchanted Gardens can do with his front yard.

Staff Sergeant Jordan Willsey is a teacher at Goshen High School and also trains soldiers at Grissom Air Reserve Base.

The look of his Mishawaka home is about to be transformed with new plants, shrubs, and a new American flag.

He's not the only one who will enjoy the new landscaping, though.

Jordan has some important women in his life. Mom Terry Wiley really wanted him to win the 16 Curb Appeal contest.

"I come over every week and mow his yard for him," she told us.

But there's also his girlfriend Chelsea Cochran and his dog Eleanor.

"I am not afraid to work in the yard. I'm not very experienced with it, but it's something I can learn," Chelsea explains.

Chelsea and Jordan are about to learn a lot from Mark Linton and his team.

"This is going to be a fun process. We would like to help them learn and teach them as we go about the process," Mark explains.

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16 Curb Appeal: Mark Linton visits Staff Sgt. Jordan Willsey's home

English ivy was once seen as the perfect plant for certain landscape situations but is now listed as an invasive plant species in South Carolina. It is seen as a severe threat. Clemson Extension recently released a bulletin encouraging homeowners to get a grip on this aggressive plant which can overrun anything in its path.

It is always a shame when gardeners realize that a plant that seems to be the answer to a problem spot or that is so attractive they cant resist planting it, then becomes a menace. It brings to mind the term too good to be true. A plant that is fast growing, thrives in adverse situations or is prolific with flowers and fruit can sometimes become an enemy.

English ivy fell out of favor some years ago, but there is now a more genuine effort to eradicate it. Clemson extension suggests the following step for making your landscape ivy-free.

Ivy that has grown up trees can be dealt with any time of year. Use a flat-head screwdriver or the blade of your pruners to pry the vines off of the truck. A saw may be needed for large vines, but be careful not to cut into the tree trunk.

Cut the vines and strip them down the tree trunk. Wear gloves and long sleeves during this process as the sap from the vines may irritate your skin.

Clemson recommends several weed-killers for eliminating beds of solid ivy or for spraying around the base of trees.

Glyphosate is a general, non-selective, systemic herbicide that has the least soil activity and is less harmful to the roots of nearby trees and shrubs than other herbicides, Clemson Extension Service notes.

You also want to be aware of other vines that may be growing in with the English ivy. Poison ivy, Virginia creeper and smilax or greenbrier may be mixed in with the ivy and require more caution or a different method for removal.

A moist soil will make it easier to remove ivy from ground areas. Try tackling it after a rain or when it has been wet by a sprinkler of irrigation system.

Eliminating ivy from annual or perennial flower beds can be a more difficult chore. This is more easily tackled when favorable plants have died down for the winter or just before they emerge in spring.

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Ivy-free: Keeping invasive plant out of the landscape

By AMY TAXIN Associated Press

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Rick Blankenship was tired of an insatiable lawn he couldn't keep green, no matter how he watered it, so he decided to tear it out.

Three years later, he brims with pride at his new front yard in Long Beach, California, carpeted with natural sage- and emerald green-colored ground covers and shaded by flowering magnolia and peppermint willow trees.

"It just sounded like a great way to save money and at the same time, kind of beautify my landscape," said the 51-year-old medical sales director.

As California faces an historic drought, more residents are following in Blankenship's footsteps and tearing out thirsty lawns to cut down on water use. Water agencies across the state have been encouraging the change by offering thousands of dollars in rebates to help homeowners make the switch to a drought-friendly landscape with better odds of surviving dry spells common to the local climate.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which covers 19 million people, received requests to remove 2.5 million square feet in residential lawns in July, up from 99,000 in January, said Bill McDonnell, the consortium's water efficiency manager.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County is taking in 20 to 30 applications a day, up from just five a week before Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency earlier this year. "We are just buried right now," said Joe Berg, the agency's water efficiency programs manager.

The trend isn't just catching on in Southern California. The Santa Clara Valley Water District, which serves Silicon Valley, received more than 1,700 requests for applications for turf removal rebates during the first six months of the year, a five-fold increase from the same period in 2013, said Marty Grimes, a district spokesman.

Water officials hope the shift is more than a fad and marks the beginning of a transformation in the way residents view neighborhood landscapes.

Most lawns in Southern California don't bear greenery other than grass but water agency officials say the interest in turf removal programs - fueled in part by an increase in rebate rates - is encouraging.

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Californians tear out lawns to cope with drought - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

The Conyers Garden Club Landscape of the month for August was awarded to John and Sue Cone of 1744 Hickory St., in Conyers. The landscape design is based on the couples love of caladiums. Part of the design is focused on an arrangement of tomato vines planted among the caladiums and nandinas on a trellis handmade by John Cone. The Cones have also created small gardens of multi-colored perennials and annuals which give the yard a colorful appearance. (Special Photo)

The Conyers Garden Club Landscape of the month for August was awarded to John and Sue Cone of 1744 Hickory St., in Conyers. The landscape design is based on the couples love of caladiums. Part of the design is focused on an arrangement of tomato vines planted among the caladiums and nandinas on a trellis handmade by John Cone. The Cones have also created small gardens of multi-colored perennials and annuals which give the yard a colorful appearance.

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SCRAPBOOK: Garden Club awards yard of the month for August

Website can help homeowners cut landscape water use by half or more

Dr. Guy Fipps, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service irrigation engineer, holds an Aggie Catch Can, a device is used to measure how much water a sprinkler irrigation system applies in a given amount of time. On the new Water My Yard website, http://WaterMyYard.org, homeowners have the choice of using a such a method, or simply selecting a picture of their sprinklers and entering the spacing between them. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Jose Lopez)

Writer: Robert Burns, 903-834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION The new Water My Yard site has been completely updated, making it even easier for homeowners to sign up, create profiles and better manage landscape irrigation, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service irrigation experts.

Automated text messaging of recommended irrigation scheduling is new to version 2, said Charles Swanson, AgriLife Extension irrigation specialist, College Station. Also, the new version allows homeowners to create multiple zones for their yard, such as a recommendation for the front yard sprinklers and the backyard sprinklers. The original version only allowed you to select one sprinkler type per sign up.

What hasnt changed is the basic principle behind Water My Yard, said Dr. Guy Fipps, AgriLife Extension irrigation engineer, College Station.

The Water My Yard project incorporates automated weather stations situated throughout the state that feed data to the Water My Yard website, http://WaterMyYard.org. The website software uses evapotranspiration rates usually termed ET to calculate weekly irrigation recommendations specific to areas within the district, Fipps said.

Evapotranspiration is a measure of how much water plants, such as turfgrass, trees and shrubs, need in order to grow and stay healthy, Fipps explained. Water requirements depend not only on the type of plant, but also on local weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed and solar radiation.

All this may sound complicated, but its been made nearly a no-brainer for those who are part of a sponsored Water My Yard region, Fipps said

In 2013, the program was first piloted in cooperation with the North Texas Municipal Water District, which delivers water to 1.6 million customers in 13 cities in the Metroplex: Allen, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Princeton, Plano, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie.

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Irving, College Station, Bryan now in Water My Yard program

By this fall well have over 100,000 plants, says project manager Patrick Breedlove, looking out over the yard of potted natives.

Those pots represent just the starting stock for what Breedlove eventually hopes to see covering the yard and growing along Cherokee stream banks. The department is continuing to get more species in largely from the N.C. Forest Service, which has given the Eastern Band a reduced price with plans to gather still more from the backcountry.

Come fall, theyll take cuttings of all the plants and start growing those cuttings into new plants. Those baby plants will go in the greenhouse for the winter while their roots grow and their stems harden into wood, and from there theyll move to a soon-to-be-erected cold-weather hoop house. The last stop will be a return to the grow yard when the weather gets warm, where theyll await planting in some tribal restoration project. Meanwhile, another batch will be growing up six months behind.

Our goal in three to five years is for us to provide all plants, not just for environmental-based projects but to land-based projects that need native plants, Breedlove said.

The tribe doesnt reveal cost figures for projects, but the propagation operation, with its automated greenhouse and irrigation system, soon-to-be-installed tower lights and security system and the impending renovation of a historic house onsite that will serve as an office didnt come cheaply. But within three years, Breedlove said, the greenhouse operation will have paid for itself.

The plants will mainly be used in restoration projects to improve waterside habitats and wildlife forage. Before, the Eastern Band has had to buy all those plants from some other supplier, but its a whole lot cheaper to grow them in-house. For instance, a rhododendron in one gallon of soil costs $3.30 to buy, but only about $0.60 to propagate.

For some of them, were about 10 or 15 percent of cost, Breedlove said.

Its the potential for cost savings that initially sparked Breedloves interest in the greenhouse idea. He started looking into the dollars and cents in 2012, submitting a financial analysis to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which funds ECBI restoration projects. The funds were approved in October, with 99 percent of the money coming from the EPA, though a whole laundry list of partners donated supplies, volunteers, professional advice and the remainder of the cash. By January, the first ground was broken, and by July the greenhouse was ready to go.

I detailed my whole department down here for the last two weeks, said Jamie Long, manager of the Office of Environment and Natural Resources. We worked every day, long hours.

Continued here:
Reclaiming the landscape: Greenhouse project to spur habitat restoration

Weeds (Thomas Maccubbin / August 15, 2014)

A funny thing happens during the summer.

The weeds grow big and tall. Actually it is not funny at all as some grow much larger than your flowers and shrubs. Most are sneaky growing up among the desirable plants to gradually overtake the landscape. Some even look like the desired plantings as they grow bigger and wider. I know, its hot outside and you are often tempted let them grow. You will deal with them during the fall.

Big weeds are hard to control and by the end of summer they can be intermingled with your plantings. Even though you may be a bit behind, now is the time to take control as there are several months of good growing weather ahead. And you do not want that most unfavorable weed to go to seed. Take back your landscape and prevent more growth using one or more of the following weed controls.

*Do the old fashion thing of pulling or hoeing out the weeds. This may be the only control if weeds are close to your favorite plants or have overtaken large areas of the yard.

*Spot treat the weeds with a nonselective herbicide that allows use in flower beds and near shrub plantings. Some are natural weed controls including soap and vinegar-based products. Just make sure you do not spray or treat the desirable plants and follow label instructions.

*Control grassy weeds in flower beds, shrub plantings and ground covers with an over-the-top selective herbicide. Several companies have products specifically for grassy weeds that can be used with many of your plantings following label instructions.

*After removing weeds apply a landscape fabric to the surface of the soil. Use one of these in flower beds and shrub plantings. They can be topped with stones or mulches if you wish.

*Maintain a one inch mulch layer in flower beds and up to a 3-inch layer with shrub and perennial plantings.

*Apply a preemergence herbicide made for flower and shrub plantings that prevents weed seed germination. Most can only be applied to specific established plantings so follow the label carefully.

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Don't Let Weeds Outgrow Your Yard